RESIDENTS in the Spetchley area have been accused of being opposed to the football club, but happy to accommodate other developments such as a public house, and a rugby club park-and-ride, and so on.
But these are only two of a series of imposed developments and problems that are eroding the quality of life for those who have homes here.
Other problems include major expansion of the Sixth Form College, developments at the Government buildings, the Sunday market, escalating traffic and vandalism.
However, all of these pale into insignificance compared to the influence of the threatened retail park and football stadium.
It is not the football club but the scale of the retail park that is the problem, so here are some facts. At 100,000 square ft, and with an exclusive 600-vehicle car park, the B&Q is more than four times larger than Blackpole Sainsbury.
The second store, which has somehow been disregarded, is no less than 50,000 sq ft, which is twice the size of Sainsbury, and with its own exclusive car park for several hundred vehicles.
The famous artist's impression shows a discreet and picturesque stadium with just a glimpse of the B&Q beyond. This drawing is grossly misleading. Because the B&Q Warehouse will be erected on high ground near the crest of the hill, it will dwarf the stadium and totally dominate the area.
The impression is given that this will be just another DIY, but it will be three times larger than St Peter's Homebase, which draws 5,000 to 6,000 customers per week.
Consequently, any claim that this will not affect this area is ludicrous. Not without reason has the council requested a business plan and impact study.
KEITH BURTON (Chairman),
Spetchley Road Area Residents' Association.
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